Fishing for Burbot

[rl206]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knows much about the fresh water ling cod or Burbot.
I saw one recently and want to catch one now lol
Does anyone know how to catch them?
As far as lures, time year etc.
From what I've read, you just happen to catch them?
Any input is great!

[dicinu]

all the searches I found were in alaska and Wisconson but this may be help full I will post a link from alaska's site


Setlining is a legal method to harvest burbot in most waters of the Tanana Valley. Check your regulations for the waters in which you plan to fish. You can put out a setline during the daylight hours, let it fish through the night and check it the following day.

Finding the right burbot fishing spot takes practice and a lot of trial and error. A rule of thumb is that if you drill an ice hole and hit rushing water and/or free flowing ice, cut your losses and try drilling someplace else. Burbot are rarely found in fast moving water and frazil ice is rough on their gills. If you drill a hole and find still water two feet deep or more, there could be burbot lurking underneath…give it a try. Whether jigging or setlining is your method of choice, I’d recommend taking a friend or making it a family outing. Company takes the edge off finding empty setlines and any ice fishing trip is made better by good conversation and camaraderie. Here’s wishing you thick ice, heavy lines and good fishing.


above is from this site

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazi ... burbot.htm

[Jake Dogfish]

I used to catch some on set lines but those are no longer legal in this state. They bite best at night, try jigs tipped with nightcrawlers moved slowly. They seem to be shallower as the the weather gets colder. The upper Columbia above Roosevelt has many of them. Good Luck.

[Mike Carey]

Did you know that you can search this site's 12+ years of articles and reports? The Search link is found by clicking the "Home" tab, then Search, 4th from the left.

Here's an article I did years ago:

Fresh Water Ling

[The Quadfather]

I saw one recently and want to catch one now lol

Are you willing to say what lake you saw the burbot in? Not asking for the spot, but curious as to which lake.

btw, really nice article that Mike sent the link to at the bottom of your thread.

[fishaholictaz]

Burbot PIG out in the winter in deep water. The guys here catch them on cut bait. Here is a link to an icefishing site with alot of info. link. A friend of mine is taking me out after them this year. There are nights he catches 50+ burbs!

[Anonymous]

Are you willing to say what lake you saw the burbot in? Not asking for the spot, but curious as to which lake.

btw, really nice article that Mike sent the link to at the bottom of your thread.

Quad, I'm guessing the Potholes as there is a nice pic of one in the current report section of Salmon University.

[bionic_one]

That's a really nice looking fish. Wonder if they fight like their saltwater cousins. I haven't caught many lings, but they are by far my favorite fish to catch.

[BentRod]

I saw one recently and want to catch one now lol

Are you willing to say what lake you saw the burbot in? Not asking for the spot, but curious as to which lake.

btw, really nice article that Mike sent the link to at the bottom of your thread.

Quad, I hear they're supposed to be in Lake Kachess also.

[natetreat]

I caught one in Lake Cle Ellum. I've heard that they're in kachess, but never caught one. The one I caught was on a jig while jigging for lake trout. Fantastic fish, fought really hard, took forever to get him in on the light tackle that I was using. An ultra light uglystick five foot rod with six pound mono. It pulled my small boat around quite a bit. If I'd had stronger tackle and could let the fish feel me more it would've freaked out even more I'm sure. Thrashed around at the surface and in the boat, they're crazy looking fish. But as for looking like salt Ling Cod, not a chance. The salties are wicked bigger and have crazier teeth. It was about the size of a small male salt water ling and did taste quite similar, but not exactly. I've been a ling cod fishermen as long as I can remember, and I love that thrill of hooking into a fish that pulls back harder and faster than any other fish I've caught pound for pound. There've been times when I've almost been dragged into the brink by those buggers. But as for access and closeness I'll definitely be out targeting them again the burbot are just cool looking fish and a blast to fish for.

[racfish]

I too was gonna say Lake Kachess. Also in Banks Lake and I believe in Roosevelt also. They have the texture of a ling only with no taste.Not that Ling has such an aromatic flavor. I just find that fish from the salt have a lil better taste.

[rl206]

I saw one recently and want to catch one now lol

Are you willing to say what lake you saw the burbot in? Not asking for the spot, but curious as to which lake.

btw, really nice article that Mike sent the link to at the bottom of your thread.

Quad, I hear they're supposed to be in Lake Kachess also.

Bentrod is close, I saw one in Keechalus, (spelling?) close by Kachess

but I did see that one from potholes.
But thanks for link ill check that out when I have time later tonight.

[TomD]

They have 'em in Chelan, too... though I've never caught one...

[rl206]

Did you know that you can search this site's 12+ years of articles and reports? The Search link is found by clicking the "Home" tab, then Search, 4th from the left.

Here's an article I did years ago:

Fresh Water Ling

Thanks for the article,
I will just be fishing from shore,
So hopefully I can find a deep hole!

[rl206]

I did get a chance to go out, from shore.
spent about an hour there, something tapped my line but that was it.
a boat would probably help haha